[snip]

Judging by the instrument setup, the musicians had a well cared for baby grand style piano, a stand up string bass, both of which seemed to be played by the two well dressed human men. The elven like figure in a lovely red satin gown, seemed to be doing singing warm ups off to the side. Seems like they were going to have a female singer a piano player and a string bass player soon regaling the tavern with music and the like.

Ensign Pawl Knight - Jo Security

“I think we have a friend,” Marcus whispered to Sweeney and began to cross the floor to meet their new admirer.

-Lieutenant Junior Grade Marcus Anders: Chief of Security-

As Marcus approached the single man in a colorful mix of brown suit, he put down his glass and leaned forward on the small wooden table. “..Welcome stranger..” he said to Marcus, “..What brings you over to my humble table?” he inquired with an attempt at an innocent like air that he had not been trying to study them intently just a moment ago.

GM CockRoach

Paul snapped back to reality as he heard someone was coming and got repaired for anything. He kept quiet as he attempted to study the new arrival to the table.

Ensign Paul Knight

Paul’s reaction was just in time to see their waitress from earlier returning with their assorted drinks. Setting down the bottles of wine, beer, or the like she stood back up then, “..Your food order should be ready in another 20 or so minutes, our baker had to make another loaf of bread as we did not expect to get so many in one order. So you’ll all be lucky in that you get fresh from the oven bread!” She said with a smile, “..In either case is there anything else I can get before I return with your food later?” she inquired.

GM CockRoach

“That depends on what I can do for you friend,” Marcus replied with a warm grin, “What has you so interested in our group?”

-Lieutenant Junior Grade Marcus Anders: Chief of Security-

The well dressed brown suited man just gave an idle shrug to Marcus, “..Well it is not every day the Vine here gets such a jovial group, much less one so large. I would at first think you were a party of adventurers, but your garb and equipment don’t seem quite up to snuff in quality for most I’ve met on the roads of the Old Slavich. So my next thought is you could be a party of traders, but again your accompaniment tells me that’s not likely the case either. I happen to run much of the local trade here in the village, and no major caravans beyond the Vistani were to be coming in anytime soon. So that closes out the idea you are a group of merchants or traders..” he said pausing to take a sip of his glass again. Leaning forward then he clasped his hands together on the table. “..Then I realized none of you are of the local Barovian stock here in the village or elsewhere. Nor are you from any of the other majorly human focused countries of The Core region. This means either you are outlanders from beyond The Mists, or from a new country just revealed by The Mists. But the fact you do not seem bewildered like most outlanders freshly arrived, and you’re able to understand the local Barovian tongue means the second option is also not likely..” he said.

Pausing again to sip his glass, he gave Marcus a harder, but still seemingly friendly look, “..Which means my friend, you are your compatriots are something special, and special people happen to garner my interest most closely in my line of work..” he stated.

GM CockRoach

Now Marcus was interested, “And your line of work would be?”

-Lieutenant Junior Grade Marcus Anders: Chief of Security

The man sat back again with a smile on his face, though it seemed far from a friendly one more like a smile that hid a more sinister nature. “..Why me? I’m a man of trade. I organize merchant caravans around Barovia, and in particular for those coming through Barovia village here. I also manage information exchanges with these caravans and for adventuring parties provide rumors and leads to places of their interest for adventuring......for a price of course..” He said.

GM CockRoach